4 ms·

>It makes me yearn for an urban future where personal car ownership is a distant memory. You won't have to wait that long -- EVs reduce noise substantially and

by scythe 6y ago

>It makes me yearn for an urban future where personal car ownership is a distant memory. You won't have to wait that long -- EVs reduce noise substantially and mass adoption is probably one to three decades away depending on the city

leetcrew 6y ago
maybe true to an extent, but most modern ICE vehicles have pretty quiet exhausts. above parking lot speeds, you are mostly hearing noise from the tires and displacement of air.
aitchnyu 6y ago
Seems noise levels wont improve much with today's tires: > Traffic noise is created by vehicle exhaust systems, engines, and by contact of tires with the road during travel. Of these, tire contact with the road accounts for 75 to 90 percent of the overall traffic noise.
- zby 6y ago
  That depends on speed for sure.
  - bradlys 6y ago
    Above 20mph, you’re mostly hearing tire noise as far as I can tell. And I’d say most driving is above 20. Most people kind of forget about tire noise when purchasing tires. I don’t think most people put much thought in tires ever anyway.
    - sagarm 6y ago
      Exactly why there need to be regulations for tire noise.
      - bradlys 6y ago
        Unlikely to ever pass - I'd assume. All those who like to go off roading would see all their tires never pass.
benrbray 6y ago
No need to wait -- a short stay in Tokyo was enough to convince me that daily life can be much better right now if I leave the United States. I was scheduled to move permanently to Japan in May, but unfortunately the travel ban delayed my move. As a young person with few attachments, it was an easy decision to leave, especially given all that has happened the last few months. One to three decades is 1/8 to 1/2 of my life, if I'm lucky not to get hit by a car before then. Until the United States can catch up to the rest of the developed world, I'll be voting with my residence.
- refurb 6y ago
  So you've visited Japan, but not actually lived there, but you're certain "life can be much better right now if I leave the United States"?
  - benrbray 6y ago
    I lived+worked in Tokyo for 5 months. Compared to my experiences living in Seattle, Detroit, and Atlanta as well as visiting places like Chicago and San Francisco, * To me, Tokyo feels like it was designed for people, not cars. It's entirely possible to bike / walk from one end to the other without exposing yourself to fast-moving vehicle traffic (and in fact, I have done so). There is an abundance of parks, greenways, and rivers throughout the city. * Neighborhoods are blocked off from non-local traffic, making Tokyo much safer and quieter. Six-year-olds walk themselves to school! * Short commutes by bike or train mean that more of my day is my own. * Mixed-use zoning [1] means I don't need to travel as far for my basic needs. When I do want to travel far, bullet trains can zip me across the country in just a few hours. * Cost of living is lower for my lifestyle. No need to own a car. Grocery costs are comparable to a big American city, but restaurants are cheaper and more abundant, with reasonable portions and healthier options. * Rent is cheaper, since I don't mind living in a small space. There is normally no such option in American cities, especially with the "luxury apartment" fad. When I eventually want to buy a house, it will be affordable since housing is (rightly) NOT viewed as an investment in Japan. * Good national health insurance system with cheaper medical costs than the United States. * Even for non-Japanese speakers, there are plenty of opportunities to socialize and have new life experiences. [1]: http://urbankchoze.blogspot.com/2014/04/japanese-zoning.html http://urbankchoze.blogspot.com/2014/04/japanese-zoning.html So yes, for me, I am certain daily life will be better (for me) in Japan. :)
globular-toast 6y ago
When driven normally (or considerately) the engine noise of a petrol car is barely perceptible above the noise of the tyres on the road. EVs are heavier than petrol cars so will produce even more road noise. Also, in many places EVs will be required to produce an artificial sound in addition to the road noise. The thing with sound is our perceptible dynamic range is huge. If you live in a city you probably don't think regular car noise is that bad. That's because your noise floor is really, really high. When you're out in the countryside with no wind, a single car is the loudest thing for miles around.

by scythe 6y ago

leetcrew 6y ago

maybe true to an extent, but most modern ICE vehicles have pretty quiet exhausts. above parking lot speeds, you are mostly hearing noise from the tires and displacement of air.

aitchnyu 6y ago

Seems noise levels wont improve much with today's tires: > Traffic noise is created by vehicle exhaust systems, engines, and by contact of tires with the road during travel. Of these, tire contact with the road accounts for 75 to 90 percent of the overall traffic noise.

zby 6y ago
That depends on speed for sure.
- bradlys 6y ago
  Above 20mph, you’re mostly hearing tire noise as far as I can tell. And I’d say most driving is above 20. Most people kind of forget about tire noise when purchasing tires. I don’t think most people put much thought in tires ever anyway.
  - sagarm 6y ago
    Exactly why there need to be regulations for tire noise.
    - bradlys 6y ago
      Unlikely to ever pass - I'd assume. All those who like to go off roading would see all their tires never pass.

benrbray 6y ago

No need to wait -- a short stay in Tokyo was enough to convince me that daily life can be much better right now if I leave the United States. I was scheduled to move permanently to Japan in May, but unfortunately the travel ban delayed my move. As a young person with few attachments, it was an easy decision to leave, especially given all that has happened the last few months. One to three decades is 1/8 to 1/2 of my life, if I'm lucky not to get hit by a car before then. Until the United States can catch up to the rest of the developed world, I'll be voting with my residence.

refurb 6y ago
So you've visited Japan, but not actually lived there, but you're certain "life can be much better right now if I leave the United States"?
- benrbray 6y ago
  I lived+worked in Tokyo for 5 months. Compared to my experiences living in Seattle, Detroit, and Atlanta as well as visiting places like Chicago and San Francisco, * To me, Tokyo feels like it was designed for people, not cars. It's entirely possible to bike / walk from one end to the other without exposing yourself to fast-moving vehicle traffic (and in fact, I have done so). There is an abundance of parks, greenways, and rivers throughout the city. * Neighborhoods are blocked off from non-local traffic, making Tokyo much safer and quieter. Six-year-olds walk themselves to school! * Short commutes by bike or train mean that more of my day is my own. * Mixed-use zoning [1] means I don't need to travel as far for my basic needs. When I do want to travel far, bullet trains can zip me across the country in just a few hours. * Cost of living is lower for my lifestyle. No need to own a car. Grocery costs are comparable to a big American city, but restaurants are cheaper and more abundant, with reasonable portions and healthier options. * Rent is cheaper, since I don't mind living in a small space. There is normally no such option in American cities, especially with the "luxury apartment" fad. When I eventually want to buy a house, it will be affordable since housing is (rightly) NOT viewed as an investment in Japan. * Good national health insurance system with cheaper medical costs than the United States. * Even for non-Japanese speakers, there are plenty of opportunities to socialize and have new life experiences. [1]: http://urbankchoze.blogspot.com/2014/04/japanese-zoning.html http://urbankchoze.blogspot.com/2014/04/japanese-zoning.html So yes, for me, I am certain daily life will be better (for me) in Japan. :)

globular-toast 6y ago

When driven normally (or considerately) the engine noise of a petrol car is barely perceptible above the noise of the tyres on the road. EVs are heavier than petrol cars so will produce even more road noise. Also, in many places EVs will be required to produce an artificial sound in addition to the road noise. The thing with sound is our perceptible dynamic range is huge. If you live in a city you probably don't think regular car noise is that bad. That's because your noise floor is really, really high. When you're out in the countryside with no wind, a single car is the loudest thing for miles around.